K1 vs CR1 Visa?

[Snb3189 7]

Hi everybody,

 

I am writing to see which makes the most sense, from a financial standpoint? The k1 fiance Visa or getting married and applying for cr1 Visa? 

 

Thank you for your input! 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

14 minutes ago, Snb3189 said:

Hi everybody,

 

I am writing to see which makes the most sense, from a financial standpoint? The k1 fiance Visa or getting married and applying for cr1 Visa? 

 

Thank you for your input! 

As of right now the CR1 makes the best sense financially. The time difference is negligible at best these days but at least one the CR1 they can get a GC and work immediately upon entry

[fernandalex 16]

I'm in the middle of the K1 process, sometimes I wish I had done something else.. Like the CR1.

I guess there's not a perfect way tho.. both options have their pros and cons.

[usmsbow 801]

39 minutes ago, Snb3189 said:

Hi everybody,

 

I am writing to see which makes the most sense, from a financial standpoint? The k1 fiance Visa or getting married and applying for cr1 Visa? 

 

Thank you for your input! 

 

CR1. The CR1 doesn't require you to do the I-485, which is additional $, and makes the K1 process more expensive than the CR1. 

 

K-1

129f filing fee=$535

K1 visa=$265

I-485 filing fee= $1225 (including biometric)

Total= $2025

 

CR1

I-130 filing fee= $535

AOS fee= $120

Visa fee= $325

Green card fee= $225

Total= $1205

 

Plus, as cyberfx1024 said, CR1 visa holders get a GC right away, and can work as soon as they enter in the country. A k-1 visa holder has to get married, then apply for a green card (along with an EADcard), and only when they get the EAD card can they start working. 

 

 

[Just Paul 4,595]

1 hour ago, Snb3189 said:

Hi everybody,

 

I am writing to see which makes the most sense, from a financial standpoint? The k1 fiance Visa or getting married and applying for cr1 Visa? 

 

Thank you for your input! 

If you can wait to get to the US, the CR1 is a much smoother process once you get the the US.  No AOS no waiting another 5 to 8 months to travel or work.

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

18 hours ago, Snb3189 said:

I am writing to see which makes the most sense, from a financial standpoint? The k1 fiance Visa or getting married and applying for cr1 Visa? 

The fees are lower for a CR-1 (as per above), and the process is much smoother once you get to the US, but there are other factors

- does the intending immigrant intend to work outside the home as soon as possible? (if so, a CR-1 is a major financial advantage especially if you can reasonably expect to get a relatively high-paying job since you can work right away)

- assuming you're currently not living together in the intending immigrant's country, what will it cost for your fiance(e) to visit you (or vis versa, given a beneficiary from a VWP country like Sweden)? How long will this take?

- it takes about six months longer to get to the US on average right now on a CR-1; other than visiting to get married, would you want to visit additional times in that period? How much would that cost?

 

Though I'd really rate the non-financial factors more highly

- how important is it to be living together in the US as soon as possible? (the more important this is to you, the more you'd favor the K-1 route*)

- how important is it for the beneficiary to be able to work, drive, and travel outside the US immediately after arriving? (the more important this is to you, the more you'd favor the CR-1 route)

 

 * Unless you're from a country where K-1s are rarely approved or frequently subjected to extensive post-interview administrative processing; Sweden is not one of those.

Edited September 24, 2019 by DaveAndAnastasia

[Snb3189 7]

Thank you to all, very much so appreciate your input!